REPORT
/ INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Lead in Decorative Enamel Paints

The UN Environment Programme (UNEP), together with the
International POPs Elimination Network (IPEN), has released a study titled
‘Lead in Decorative Enamel Paints: National paint testing results,' analyzing
the lead content of decorative paints from nine countries.

The report includes information from Argentina, Azerbaijan, Chile,
Cote d'Ivoire, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kyrgyzstan, Tunisia and Uruguay, also finds that: paints with extremely high concentrations (>10,000
ppm) of lead are still available in most countries; in most countries with lead
paint, equivalent paint with no added lead is available; yellow, red and other
brightly colored paints have the highest lead content; and few countries have
established regulatory frameworks, but those that have, generally have lower
lead paint concentrations.